Glass-annealing kiln



' '(NQ Model.) I 2 sheets-sheet 1.

\' E'. WALSH, Jr.

A GLASS ANNEALING KILN.

No. 577,542. A Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

(No Model.) i

2 Sheets-SheetZ,

E. WALSH, Jr. GLASS ANNEALINGKILN.

Patented Feb. 23

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, UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

DVARDl WALSH, JR., OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GLASS-ANNEALING KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,542, dated February 23, 1897. Application filed December 1'7, 1894.- Renewed January 23, 1897. Serial No. 6201487- (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD VALSH, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in GlassAnnealing Kilns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference r being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein;

*Figure l is a horizontal sectional View of-m y improved kiln, showing but a portion thereof; and Fig. l, Sheet 2, is a similar View of a continuation of one of the kilnways. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the front portion of a kiln, and Fig. 2@ is a similar View of the continuation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View corresponding to the line of section of Fig. 2 and showing the elevator in its lowered position in full lines and in dotted lines in its raised position.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in glass-annealing kilns of that class which are particularly adapted to anneal plate-glass.

Heretofore plate-glass has been annealed in kilns or leers by passing the plate through a long way on carriages or traveling rods, the plates coming out at the rear end of the kiln properly annealed. In following this ol d practice the temperature of the kiln determines the length of time the plate of glass should consume in passing through the kiln to be properly annealed. It will thus be seen that this practice precludes the proper annealing of two or more thicknesses or sizes of Aplates of glass in one kiln at-the same time, and as these kilns are quite expensive and take up considerable space (they being about seventyiive feet long and fifteen feet wide) it will also be seen that it would be disadvantageous to construct and have in operation two or more independently-operated kilns for different thicknesses of glass, especially when the glass has to be handled from the rolling-table to the kiln and should not be chilled in transit. Y

The object of the present invention is to construct a kiln for annealing plate-glass which will permit glass of different thicknesses to be properly annealed by being exposed to the proper temperature the proper length of time with but little more expense than it has heretofore required to build and operate a sin gie-thickness annealing-kiln.

The invention may be said to consist in arranging two or more kilnways near each other, the front ends of which are connected by a neck, whereby a plate of glass may when placed on the sole be introduced into its proper Way, thereby subjecting it to the proper temperature and time exposure, or the plate may, if necessary, be slid on the sole through the neck to the next way or the next, as the case may be, until it reaches its proper way, when it may be pushed in on the carryingrods, beginning its travel toward the rear end of the kiln.

A kiln constructed as shown in the drawings, involving the sliding upon the sole of the plates of glass of different thicknesses, is especially commendable when annealing plates of different thicknesses. For instance, thin glass soon cools sufficiently to be placed upon the traveling bars, when it will begin its journey through the kiln. Therefore it is desirable that thin sheets be introduced into the first way, while thicker sheets, reqniring, as they do, a longer time on the sole of the kiln to become sufficiently cool, may be given such time while they are being slid from in front of one way to another.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the front wall, which is provided with openings or peep-holes a, through which the plates of glass may be seen and manipulated by the use of proper instruments on the sole B.

C indicates a table or ledge arranged preferably at the side of the kiln and on a level with the sole B, upon which the plates of glass are placed preparatory to being shoved onto the sole B.

D indicates the side Walls, which extend to the rear, upon which a suitable roof or covering E is supported. This roof is formed in sections placed so as to leave a slight space between topermit the escape of heat.

Located beneath the sole B and preferably near the side walls are combustion-chambers F, into which lead air and gas pipes, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,) while leading from these combustion-chambers are fines Gr, which are preferably cross-connected at g, and which flues terminate or open into the kiln above the sole B at g' and g, the latter openings being located in the neck.

Both air and gas pipes leading to the com- IOO bustion-chambers F are preferably provided with dampers f, so that the passage of the air and gas to the combustion-ehambers may be regulated to enable more or less perfect combustion. Combustion in the chambers F is preferably carried on slowly, or, in other words, the air and gas pipes are so regulated relative to each other that not enough oxygen is admitted to support perfect combustion. Therefore, although combustion is going on in these chambers and iiues, the heat generated is comparatively small or just enough to keep the sole B to the proper temperature, while at the exits g and g, where abundant oxygen is supplied, perfect combustion takes place, which results in heating The air in the kiln to the proper temperature.

The mechanisms for carrying the plates of glass through the kiln form no part of this invention; but I have shown an elevator and traveling mechanism such as is shown in United States Letters Patent No. 405,527, dated .I une 1G, 1889, granted to Brogan, Craig, and French. The elevator P is so arranged that in its lowered position it permits the plates of glass to be shoved from the sole B onto the traveling bars of the lower mechanism Q. Then it is desired to place the glass on the upper traveling bars, the glass is shoved from the sole B onto the elevator and thence raised, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to such an elevation as will enable the glass to be shoved from the elevator onto the upper series of traveling bars, (lettered R in the drawings.) This elevator, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, is mounted on the ends of rock-arms, the shafts of which being partially rotated in unison will raise or lower the elevator to the desired position. By this means plates of glass to be annealed are placed upon either the upper or lower travcling mechanism, as desired, and gradually traversed through the kiln.

To prevent the plates from getting chilled too much when placed on the elevator, which virtually suspends the plate in the air, I arrange a gas-pipe II, which discharges through openings 7L at the sides of the kilnway and above the elevator-pit, so that the temperature at this point is raised to guard against the plate cracking.

Leading beneath the floor of the kiln, preferably beneath the elevator-pit, are air and gas pipes I and J, which, when combined and ignited, burn in a combustion-chamber K. rlhe heat from this combustion-chamber tends to heat the floor of the kiln forming the bottom of the elevat-or-pit, and in this manner the bottom surface of the plate of glass, when suspended on the elevator, as before referred to, is subjected to heat.

L indicates the ioor of the kilnway, which extends from the sole B to the rear end of the kiln. Beneath this iloor are formed fines M,

which conduct the products of combustion rearwardly to stackiues N N.

O indicates a central curtain-wall which divides the fines M into two divisions, one leading to one stacleiiue and the other to another, so that when the products of combustion are drawn into the ilues M by the stackdraft they are caused to spread and diffuse themselves under the floor L, as shown by the arrows, Fig. l.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my improved kiln may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in theleast departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an annealingkiln, the combination with the solo, of two or more leerways lead ing therefroln, means for causing the travel of the glass through the leerways, an elevator located in each of said ways for receiving the glass from the sole and conveying it to the traveling mechanism, air and gas lines located beneath the sole and leading to a combustionchamber, and flues which extend longitudin ally the leerways for conducting off theproducts of combustion; substantially as described.

2. In an annealing-kiln, the combination with a sole, of two or more leerways leading therefrom, means for causing the travel of the glass through the leerways, an elevator located in each of said ways for receiving the glass from the sole and conveying it to the traveling mechanism, iues arranged under the sole for the slow combustion of gas, which fines terminate at points above the sole, gasexit ports which discharge above the ele vators, air and gas fines which lead beneath the elevators and combustion-chambers beneath the floors of the several leerways substantially as described.

3. In an annealing-kiln, the combination with the sole, of two or more kilnways leading therefrom, il ues arranged under said sole for the slow combustion of gas, which fines terminate at points above the sole, elevatorpits located just back of the sole, gas-exit ports which discharge into the different ways above said pits, air and gas iiues which lead beneath said pits, combustion-chambers beneath the floors in the several ways,'and flues for conducting off products of combustion from said chambers, which Ilues are divided, the divisions ofthe different ways leading to different stacks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of December, 1894.

EDVARD IVALSII, JR.

-Witnesses:

F. B. CoRNwALL, HUGH K. WAGNER.

IOO 

